Cutting Down Trees at the Old Paradise Church

On April 19, 2012 we went to the old Paradise white church, which they were tearing down. They said that we could take the pine trees that were too close to the church. And we had been praying that we would be able to have some pinewood so we could try to make wood furniture and have firewood, and that was an answer to our prayer.

It was a beautiful day in Paradise. It was cool to see the huge pine trees come down and see pinecones go everywhere. We had fun playing in the cut down pine trees. We pretended that bad guys were chasing us. I slipped a lot, so I got a lot of scrapes on my arms and legs because I was wearing capris and a short sleeved shirt. The cut down pine trees were like the forest. 

 

We also played tag in the trees. One family member was the person who chases and when the chaser tags a person then the person who got tagged is it. Sometimes I would hide in a clump of pine needles and then sneak out. 

We also needed to do work and load all the branches onto the trailer while my dad chain sawed the branches off the pine trees. We worked really hard and had fun.

While my dad and brother Jared went and unloaded the branches, we played in the branches of the pine tree that were still at the church. We pretended that we got shot and the king’s army captured us. Then we escaped because our teammates would come and save us. 

On May 15-25, 2012, we went to get the other trees that were in too close to the church that the track hoe had already pulled out. My mom, Joshua, and I went to the post office to mail some things off, and we saw the track hoe tearing out trees. My mom went and talked to the guy in charge, and he said that we could take the trees because they would have to haul them off to the dump if we didn’t take them. 

So the next day we went and chain sawed away. While my dad did that, Joshua and I went and sat on a stump and looked at the track hoe tearing part of the church to pieces. They can’t turn back now. I have seen the church in steps get destroyed up to one wall about the size of 10 by 15 feet with three windows. It is sad and exciting at the same time.

By April Willis age 11

Moving Out

Two weeks ago today I moved out. It was really weird to completely empty my room and to actually be moving out. I realized how much junk I had, and it felt really good to de-junk all of my stuff. Surprisingly enough, I was able to fit everything I wanted to take with me to college in my car. I was even able to squeeze in all the food that my parents gave to me.

When I got to my apartment, I brought all of my stuff inside and started to unpack. Then my Mom came by later and we went shopping together. We got food, dishes, towels, and some awesome kitchen knives. It was really fun to go shopping with her, and I love the beautiful dishes she bought me for my birthday. 

The first night I spent at my apartment was awful because I got sick and couldn’t breathe because my nose was so stuffed up. This sickness has lasted most of the week, and I am still recovering, but I am feeling better. I am grateful for the things I learned by being sick but it was kind of annoying because it took forever for me to get enough energy up to organize all my stuff. It also ruined my ambitious plans to exercise everyday and get up early and all of the other goals I was going to start as soon as I moved out, but I suppose I can start them now that I’m feeling better and it will work just as well. 

I really like my roommates and I think we are going to have a great time together this summer. I feel kind of sad leaving my childhood behind and knowing that I will only be visiting when I come home, but I feel good about this next step in my life, and I think it will be a great experience. It is SOOO nice to live in Logan and be close to school and everything else.

By Jaylee Willis age 18

Emma and Me

Emma is my little sister, and she is almost 4 months old. She likes me, and I like her.  You know why she likes me? It’s because I’m her favorite brother. She feels calm and safe with me. Sometimes I lay on the couch and she lies on my tummy and falls asleep. 

 

Sometimes she is not tired and I have to walk around and show her all the fun things around the house and outside. Emma loves me. Here is a picture of her and me.   Some pictures are when she was first born and some are now.

By Joshua Willis 
Age 10

Lawn Mowing

In the last week, I have been the lawn mower man, mowing all that was needed. I fill up the gas tank; I can start the mower by myself. It was hard to pull the lawn mower up the hills, but it was easy going down hills. I look for rocks and snakes and all other things. Once I was pushing the lawn mower in deep grass and hit a rock and killed the lawn mower. Here are some pictures of me lawn mowing.

By Joshua age 10

The Pure in Heart

I was reading in Jacob and he was condemning the people for not being pure in heart and told them that they would get in big trouble from God if they did not become pure in heart Jacob 3:3. It also says in the scriptures that if you become pure in heart then you will see God 3 Nephi 12:8. The Lord has commanded us to become pure in heart. If we do then we will be blessed. D&C 136:11

I think that your heart is your spiritual self. It is the part of you that makes the decisions. It is also the representation of who you are. God can write things on your heart. It is kind of like your communication with heaven. Your organ also holds some of your personality.

“In the science journal Discover (2004), A. Burdick reviewed a book by Charles Siebert called “A Man after His Own Heart.”  The journal reported that Seibert’s book said, “that the heart is not mere pump, as some physicians still insist, but a sophisticated participant in the regulation of emotion.  The heart has a mind of its own:  It secretes its own brain-like hormones and actively partakes in a dialogue among the internal organs – a dialogue on which cardiac researchers are only beginning to eavesdrop.  The heart likewise undergoes all manner of organic change inflicted on it by the tempestuous brain and its neurochemicals.  As one doctor explains, people do suffer heartbreak, literally.”

“Siebert’s book also mentioned William Schroeder, who was the second recipient of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart.  “The patient’s mental state was another matter.  Schroeder was weepy and deeply despondent.  (Barney Clark, the first Jarvik-7 recipient, expressed a wish to die or be killed.)  The blood still circulated, but something vital – some emotionally charged communication between heart and mind – had been lost . . . Affirming all [alleged] myths, the heart truly is a seat of human emotion.  The Jarvik-7, in contrast, was deaf to the song of human experience; built to invigorate its patient, it instead alienated him, supply Schroeder with everything but the will to live.  He had the look, Siebert writes, ‘of a man who has lost his heart.‘” Conquering Spiritual Evil pages132-133

What does pure mean? I looked it up in the dictionary and it said free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind, free from extraneous matter. If we are totally pure, then we will not have any sin.

In Psalms79:9, it says that they asked God to purge them of their sins. Without God, we cannot become totally pure. In proverbs 16:6, it says that men are purged because of truth and mercy. People go away from evil because they fear God. Do you fear God enough to totally abandon sin and purify your heart? Go to God when you don’t think that you can do whatever you are trying to do. God will help you when you ask. It might not be the kind of help that you are expecting.

In Alma5:13-22 it gives a good description on how we should end up. Have we had a change of heart? I haven’t had a total change of heart, but it is changing.

By Jared Willis age 14

Happy Mother's Day

I am so grateful for my mother. She is probably the most amazing woman I know and I love her so much. She has so much faith and desire to do good and I learn so much from her. She has always been there for me and I am so grateful for the wonderful example she has set for me as a mother and wife. I am so grateful that she married my Dad and chose to stay home and take care of us instead of working. I am discovering how rare that is and I am grateful for it.

I am grateful for how safe my heart is with her. She told me several times as I was growing up that I could talk to her about anything and that I could tell her anything. That knowledge has been my safeguard and has saved me a lot of stress and trouble. I have always known that I can trust her and that any secrets would be safe with her. I remember when I was little, my friends would ask me to promise “not to tell anyone” and I would tell them that I promised not to tell anyone except for my Mom and Dad, if I felt I needed to tell them. That is the kind of relationship my Mom made it possible to have with her and I am so grateful for it.

My mom knows me better that anyone else. She says that she always knows not to advise me but just to listen when I am making a decision or have an idea. She does do that and is really good at it. I had big dreams when I was little and I still do. She is the one who listens and supports my dreams with encouragement and questions that make me count the costs before I begin. When I was little, I wanted to be all sorts of things, including a ventriloquist, the President, a mom, an orphanage lady, and an actress. She supported me in all those dreams and never told me they were too big or that I shouldn’t pursue them, even when I had to borrow her phone to call Disney about acting positions :).

When I was living at home and Mom and I would have an argument, I would often go talk to Dad about it and he would always say that the reason I argued with Mom more than with him is because we (Mom and I) are so much alike and we both have strong spirits. I hope this is true and I think it is in a lot of ways. We are both strong-willed. We both have opinions and know how to defend them. We both have tender sides to us and love will always work better than force when working with us. Telling us what to do will not work, unless you are God or we can see that your way really is better. We both have integrity and value the truth. We both think outside of the box and are willing to try something that others might consider weird. We both love with all we have and our loyalty is something worth having.

I don’t know how many of these traits that I have are inherent or if I learned them from my mother. I think it is a combination of both and I am so grateful for my mother and how she has passed on her characteristics to me and taught me to develop my inherent traits. She is the perfect mother for me and I think she is the best!

I love you Mom and I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Love,

Jaylee

Skip the Reception. I ‘m Going Golfing!

Joshua has been full of life, adventure, and curiosity since the day he could move.  He was under the kitchen sink taking apart the pipes at 18 months. We never had childproof locks until he came along, but after we installed them, we found out that he could get into a childproof lock faster than many adults. 

He would climb anywhere and get into almost everything. To keep him out of some things, we put locks on closet doors.  When he was a toddler, we had to tie our kitchen chairs to the table so we could keep him closer to the ground.

Joshua has bright, sparkly, mischievous eyes, and we love him just they way he is.  He keeps us on our toes.  Sometimes we just have to laugh at what he comes up with.   

A few weeks ago, we went down to a wedding dinner for one of the cousins.  The dinner was at a golf club.  When we’re at a large family gathering, we keep a close eye on the little ones, but the older children usually go off and spend time with their cousins. We’re in a big family group, and they are surrounded with people they know. 

Unbeknownst to us, Joshua decided to leave the reception and check out the golf course.  He went down and noticed that the golf carts weren’t parked in an orderly way.  So, he organized the carts and repositioned them so they were neat and tidy.  He then found a friend who took him golfing.  Here’s what Joshua has to say about his adventure: 

I went upstairs to the reception with my family.  After being there for a while, I decided to check out what else was in the building.  My mom was coming upstairs with the baby while I was going downstairs.  She told me to come back upstairs, so I did.  

Later, I went back down the main stairs and checked out the kitchen.  I saw some other stairs and decided to see where they went.  They went down to the basement.  I opened all the doors that I saw, and one of the doors went to where most of the golf carts were parked.  I saw all their tools.  I played around for a while.  I didn’t mess anything up down there.

Then I went back up to the reception.  I played with my cousins and ate dinner.  Then I went back downstairs.  It was darker outside.  I went out the golf cart door, and organized all the messy golf carts.  Then I heard a door close, so I ran back up to the reception. I stayed up there for a while. While I was up there, I got a handful of candy to put in my pocket. 

Then I went back down to the main floor and went out the main entrance.  I went to where they play golf.  I saw a stream of water going out of a pipe.  I went and spent time with this guy on the golf course just talking to him and being his friend.  I asked him if I could hit a few balls.  He showed me how to hold the golf club.  It was kind of hard and confusing.  I couldn’t hit the ball very far, maybe only 50 feet.  Then I went back up to the reception and stayed there. 

Do We Really Need to Know God in This Lifetime?

God tells all of us to come unto him. He tells us that if we do, we will be saved. 

“Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” 3 Nephi 9:14

I also believe that God will come to us in His timing. He will not come to us until we are ready. I believe we should do every thing in our power to come unto Him. If we procrastinate the day of our repentance until we die, then it will be too late.

“But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” Helaman 13:38

When we stand before God to be judged, many of us will say "Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name and cast out devils in your name and have done many wonderful works in thy name. Then the Lord will say to them, I never knew you, depart hence ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22-23 If we do not truly know God before we come before his judgment seat, we will be cast off.

What does it mean to know someone? When you know someone you have met and talked with them. You do not just know about him or her, but you know them. Many people believe that Christ is real, but do they really know him personally? The prophets and God have told us many times to come unto Christ.

“And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.” Moroni 10:30

“Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.” 3 Nephi 9:22

We need to repent and come unto Christ if we want to be saved. To be able to be saved we need to be redeemed by God.

“And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;” Mosiah 27:25

How do we know we are redeemed? The brother of Jared had an experience where he was redeemed from the fall.

“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.” Ether 3:13 God showed himself to him and redeemed him.

Everyone needs to have this experience, if they want to be saved. God tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever and that he does not change. 

“For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?” Mormon 9:9

He does not play favorites. He doesn’t only show himself to the “special” ones. He tells all of us to come.

 By Rachel Willis age 13

My truck

About a month ago I got onto KSL and I was just looking around at trucks and recreational vehicles. I saw a 1989 Ford Ranger that had everything I wanted to be on my vehicle. It was like my dream truck. It has four-wheel drive, its manual, has a lift, perfect size for me, and it just looks good.

I called the guy up and talked about buying it. The next day my Mom and Dad went down to Salt Lake. After they did what they needed to do, they went and looked at it. They talked to me, and I decided that I wanted to buy it. 

 

I told the guy that I wanted it. He needed to do some fix up work on it that he hadn’t got to yet. On April 27 on our way home from my cousins wedding, we picked it up. Just looking at it puts a smile on my face.    The guy never had time to paint it. It is in good shape, but a couple spots on the side and the roof have rust, so I sanded it down and put the primer on. Yesterday I painted the top part of it.

Here are some pictures of how it looks.

 

 

 

 

by Jared Willis

Who should we praise?

I believe we should praise God and not any other man or woman, even if they are a prophet or angel. True angels and prophets of God will tell you not to praise them and give all the praise to God. Here are some examples of people who tried to praise an angel or a prophet, but were told to worship God and not them.

“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” Revelations 22: 8-9 

Even prophets make the mistake of worshiping some other person rather than God.

Laman and Lemuel tried to worship Nephi after they had been shocked. “And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.” 1 Nephi 17:55

It seems like sometimes after someone shows us something or does something really great we want to praise him or her. We should not praise them because they are flesh just like us. I believe we can thank them for what they have shown or done, but we should not praise them. We should not seek the praise or the glory of men even if it means we are cast out of churches and other places.

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:42-43 

We should love the praise of God and not the praise of men.

By Rachel Willis age 13

An Indian Cinderella Story

Their once lived a rich Sioux Indian couple they loved each other very much. The wife’s name was Devalekha, which means Celestial Beauty; she was very sweet and beautiful. Her husband name was Randhir, which meant brave. They had a tepee with fine buffalo skins on it. It was a very lovely decorated tepee.

After 5 months being married, Devalekha became pregnant, and after 9 more months, had a beautiful little girl. The baby had the most beautiful eyes any chief or Indian had seen. They named her Naini, which meant a girl with beautiful eyes. The whole village thought that was a good name for her also. The baby began to grow healthy.

Everyday the family went to the hidden waterfall and saw the rainbows in the mist waters. They all sat on the big rock by the waterfall. When the baby was only 3 years old, her mother died, but still everyday Randhir took his little girl to the waterfall and told her all the things about her mother and how much they loved her.

Randhir remarried and the Indian woman was named Asmita. The chief gave her this name about five years back because she was prideful. She had 2 daughters just like her who were also renamed by the chief 5 years ago. Their names were Naaz and Akecheta that means pride and fighter. They were named this because they fought with each other a lot.

Her stepsisters were not very nice to Naini. They made her clean the tepee, work in the garden, and anything else they needed while Randhir was hunting or fighting. When Naini had a spare moment she ran to the waterfall, which was a place that only her and her father knew of. When she came back, Asmita scolded her for being gone for 30 minutes.

News came to the village that Randhir and some other men had died in the war. When she heard this, she ran to the waterfall because now she had no one to love and be happy with. She stayed at the waterfall all day crying and thinking. That night she slept on the rock that her father and she use to sit on and talk.

Naini returned in the morning, and Asmita was very angry with Naini for not finishing her work yesterday. Naini tried to explain, but Asmita gave Naini some baggy clothes and old moccasins and sent her away. While Naini was walking away, she told Naini that she had twice amount of work today.

She got dressed quickly and started working. She was happy while she did the jobs that Asmita had given her to do because she thought of how happy her parents were with the great spirits. She loved to sing the songs that her father used to sing to her. This comforted Naini to sing because it felt like her parents were singing with her.

She became the most beautiful woman in the land. She had long silky black hair that was always in two beautiful braids. Her face was gorgeous, and she wore baggy clothes. That is why the people did not notice her.

Every day she went to pick berries. One day when she was returning from picking berries, some servants were coming towards the tepee of Naini. They said that everyone was invited to the dance in one week to see and meet the chief’s son, Ramon, who wanted to find a bride. Ramon means wise protector.

When Naini heard this she was very excited and ran to her stepmother and begged her to let her go and meet Ramon. Asmita said no because she was dirty. The real reason was because Asmita was jealous of the young beautiful girl. She wanted Ramon to fall in love with her daughters and not even have a chance of seeing Naini. Asmita knew that if Ramon did see Naini, he would fall in love with her. Naini begged her again, but Asmita gave her the same answer.

Naini keep on working hard, hoping Asmita would change her mind and give her some nicer clothes to go, but it did not happen. On the day of the dance Naaz and Akecheta were fighting like crazy and were trying on so many clothes and moccasins. They put on all their beads they had earned. They did this to show off for Ramon and show him how wonderful they were.

Naini worked really hard and did brave things but had not earned any beads. Beads and feathers did not mean much to her. She just wanted to be the best she could so when she died she could return to the Great Spirit and to the loving embrace of her earthly parents. After she waved good-bye to her stepsisters, she ran into the tepee to lay her wet eyes on her bed.

Then, she saw a heavenly being looking at her in the manner that for some reason comforted her. They stood there in silence for a minute or two, and then the angel broke the silence by asking why she looked like she was crying. Naini explained that she wanted to go to the dance to go and meet Ramon. Naini asked the angel what her name was. The angel said that it was Devakanya, which means Celestial Maiden. Naini asked Devakanya if she would help her get to the dance so she could meet Ramon for the first time. Devakanya told her that’s what she had come.

Devakanya had brought a beautiful dress and a pair of moccasins. Naini had not seen a more exquisite outfit in her whole life. Outside the tepee, there was a beautiful shiny black horse with a white star on its forehead and a silky black mane. Devakanya warned her that she needed to be back home when the sun rises in the east mountain. Naini promised with all her heart that she would.

She hurried and put on the clothes that Devakanya had given her, washed her hair, and put it into two tight braids. Devakanya gave her the warning once more and said that if she was not back home when the sun was rising in the east mountain that her beautiful clothes would turn back into rags. She would need to walk home and feel embarrassed in front of everyone. Naini told her that she would and climbed on the black mare and rode off to the chief’s house.

When she arrived, there were some Indians playing music. She tried to find her stepsisters. When she spotted them, they were talking to some other men that were friends to Ramon. They were asking them what kinds of things Ramon liked, how to impress him, and things like that. Naini did not really care about impressing Ramon; she just wanted to act like herself because that was just the way she was.

She got to the dance when the sun was hitting the west mountain. It had only been a half of hour or so when the chief ordered for all the young ladies to line up to meet Ramon. All the ladies rushed forward because they all tried to get to the front of the line so they could meet Ramon very first hoping he would fall in love with her without even seeing the others.

Suddenly Ramon came out and sat on some buffalo skins, which were neatly laid on the floor. Some of the ladies who were bickering and fighting stopped their quarreling because they did not want Ramon to see them fighting.

The chief ordered that one woman at a time would come and meet his son Ramon. Naini saw each of her stepsisters show off their beads and feathers and they talked to him for one minute each. This kept going on for about 3 hours.

Ramon told his father that he had not found anyone that was pretty and plain enough for him. Ramon wanted someone who did not like to show off, was very kind and loving, and loved him for who he was and not just because he was the chief’s son.

Naini was not selfish, and she was the last person in line. Ramon saw her from a distance as she was talking to an old lady. He suddenly fell in love with her because now he knew that she was the one he was looking for and wanted to fall in love with.  Her eyes were so beautiful and sparkly. He was impressed and knew that was the way she was, not just to show off for him.

He excused himself and went right towards her, which was the back of the line. The others watched in jealously as Ramon suddenly asked Naini to dance. The other young ladies saw how beautiful Naini was. They were so angry and jealous, but they did not show it because maybe, they hoped, Ramon would chose them. From the beginning they did not love him but liked him because he was the chief’s son, and they would soon have power.

Naini and Ramon were falling in love. Ramon did not care if Naini had beads or not he knew she deserved them. They danced on until Naini saw the sun rising in the east mountain. She ran from Ramon, not even giving him her name. Ramon went after her in the crowd, but she was gone. He found a beautiful moccasin that could only fit the girl he was dancing with before. He promised himself that whoever’s foot fits this moccasin he would marry.

She returned, changed clothes, and talked with Devakanya until her stepsisters came in unhappy and grumpy. Naini pretended she had been sleeping. Then they explained in sobs the whole story of the beautiful woman that Ramon fell in love with. Now, he is looking for the woman who fits this beautiful fine moccasin, and he or his servants are going to every tepee in the village to find the girl who fits it.

They went to bed with wet pillows, and they sleep in because they were going to bed when the sun was rising in the east mountain. They slept till the sun was almost in the middle of the sky. They woke up and ate their lunch.

There was a man outside the door of the tepee. Naaz ran and got it. It was Ramon’s servant, who said that Ramon was looking for the woman that this moccasin fits, holding out a beautiful moccasin. The stepsister tried to put it on but it just did not fit. The servant was sad because this was the last tepee in the village.

Naini recognized the moccasin and asked if she could try. The stepsisters said that she could not, but the servant said that she must. Naini slid the moccasin right on, and she took out the other one and put it on.

Suddenly a beautiful outfit appeared on her, and the servant was so happy because he found the beautiful lady that Ramon wanted and loved. Then suddenly, the black mare appeared again, and the servant led her to the chief’s house.

The stepsisters were very angry with Naini. When Naini arrived, Ramon knew it was she who he loved, and Naini loved him also. The chief gave her another name, which was Naini Nazaaha. The name means a girl with beautiful eyes who is pure, honest, and righteous.

They were soon married, and 11 months later they had a beautiful little girl. They gave her the name Nabanipa, which means a new flower. They lived happy ever after.

 

The End

By April Willis age 11

Spotty the New Kitten

About two or three weeks ago, I was going in to the garage to feed the cats and Crystalynne and I heard a squeak. We said to each other that it might be a kitten. I said probably not. 

But when I went out to do my garbage, I checked around where the squeak was coming from. I looked in the cat food and there was a small, white, and black thing in there. I knew it was a kitten, so I ran inside and announced it to everyone. They came and admired it.

My dad made a bed for them, and we saw it cuddle up to Raisin and Miyagi who are the mom and dad of the kitten. Raisin who is the mom is plain black, and Miyagi who is the dad has the look of a Siamese. I have seen the kitten getting bigger; here are some pictures of the kitten, which we named Spotty.

 

by April Willis age 11

Who Does God Tell Us to Follow?

Have you ever been told to follow a certain man or woman? What does God say about following someone? 

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5

We will be cursed if we put our trust in any man or make a man our power. If we put our trust in a man, our soul is in jeopardy. We can also get many truths from people, but before we put to action something, we need to get a confirmation from God for ourselves.

“Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.” 2 Nephi 28:31

The only person we can follow is God. God will never lead us astray.

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34

The Lord never tells us to trust in a man. We should not even put our trust in a prophet of God because they too can fall and lead people astray, just like any other man. The Lord should be the one we trust and follow.  

By Rachel Willis age 13

Enjoying Beautiful Dandelions

 

Marianne helped me take these pictures.  The dandelions are so beautiful this time of year. 

“The humble dandelion has long been at the side of man, providing nutrition, herbal medicine and the little burst of cheer that comes with the bright little flowers. Throughout the ages, dandelions have been woven into cultural folklore and have become a positive symbols with a variety of meanings. Here is but a sample of the folklore associated with the dandelions.

With some of the first edible foliage and blossoming flowers of spring, dandelions have long been symbols of good things. Woven into a wedding bouquet, they are meant to be good luck for a newly married couple. When dandelions appear in dreams, they are thought to represent happy unions. They are also considered to be symbols of hope, summer and childhood.” Dandelion Myths, Symbolism and Folklore 

“Plants in our lives have great power. . . We have all experienced the ability to regenerate from our roots like the dandelion. Their ability to thrive under the most adverse conditions can teach us persistence and survival.

Dandelions stand for wishes coming true. The dozens of seeds released by each flower head represent fertility and abundance. The seeds' journey illustrates a time of clothing the past and a symbol of hope for starting something new. When we blow away the puffball with it's seeds, we make a wish for something better. It also symbolize faithfulness and happiness, affection returned, desire, sympathy, Oracle of Time and Love.” Color Magic Photography